GBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, PR China.
Instrumental Analysis & Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.
Nat Commun. 2024 Aug 27;15(1):7356. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-51753-4.
The family of coinage-metal-based cyclic trinuclear complexes exhibits abundant photophysical properties, promising for diverse applications. However, their utility in biochemistry is often hindered by large particle size and strong hydrophobicity. Meanwhile, the investigation into multi-photon excited luminescence within this family remained undocumented, limiting their potential in bio-imaging. Herein, we unveil the multi-photon excited luminescent properties of pyrazolate-based trinuclear gold(I) clusters, facilitated by excimeric gold(I)···gold(I) interactions, revealing a nonlinear optical phenomenon within this family. Furthermore, to address issues of poor biocompatibility, we employ electrospinning coupled with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin as the matrix to fabricate a flexible, durable, transparent, and red emissive film with a photoluminescence quantum yield as high as 88.3%. This strategy not only produces the film with sufficient hydrophilicity and stability, but also achieves the downsizing of trinuclear gold(I) clusters from microscale to nanoscale. Following the instantaneous dissolution of the film in the media, the released trinuclear gold(I) nanoparticles have illuminated cells and bacteria through a real-time, non-toxic, multi-photon bio-imaging approach. This achievement offers a fresh approach for utilizing coinage-metal-based cyclic trinuclear complexes in biochemical fields.
基于金属硬币的环状三联核配合物家族具有丰富的光物理性质，有望应用于多种领域。然而，由于其粒径较大且疏水性较强，其在生物化学中的应用受到了限制。同时，该家族的多光子激发发光研究仍未见报道，限制了其在生物成像中的应用潜力。在此，我们揭示了基于吡唑啉的三联金（I）簇的多光子激发发光性质，这得益于二聚金（I）···金（I）相互作用，在该家族中展现出一种非线性光学现象。此外，为了解决生物相容性差的问题，我们采用静电纺丝与羟丙基-β-环糊精相结合的方法，制备了一种具有高荧光量子产率（88.3%）的柔性、耐用、透明且发红光的薄膜。该策略不仅使薄膜具有足够的亲水性和稳定性，而且还将三联金（I）簇的尺寸从微米级缩小到纳米级。薄膜在介质中瞬间溶解后，释放出的三联金（I）纳米颗粒通过实时、无毒、多光子生物成像方法照亮了细胞和细菌。这一成就为在生化领域中利用金属硬币基环状三联核配合物提供了新的思路。
